Tool adapter for lathes



Jan. 12, 1954 TOOL ADAPTER FOR LATHEJS Filed Feb. 27. 1950 INVENTOR. BY fkmssr A fiEA Ava/ ays E. P. PIERCE 2,665,605

Patented Jan. 12, 1954 2,665,605 TooL ADAPTER FOR LAT'I-I'ES Ernest P. Pierce, South Gate, Calif. Application February 27, 1950, ScrialNo.146,563

3 Claims.

This invention is for an improved attachment for a lathe, that makes possible the performance of various kinds of operations with marked reduction in the time and labor usually required in the changing of the tools for the different operations.

Some of the objects of my present invention are to devise such an attachment or adaptor which includes means whereby there are required substantially fewer parts and less changing of parts in order to be able to perform all of thevarious usual operations; in which there may be readily obtained and preserved the proper height of a given adaptor and its tool; in which there may be realized a substantial saving'in time and labor in the changing of adaptors; in which there is precluded the danger of the digging in eifect of the tool; in which there may be avoided the accumulation of chips; and in which thedanger of flying chips injuring the eyes of the operator is greatly reduced.

Other objects will appear'from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my present device mounted upon the tool post of a'lathe;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same and the tool post to which it is attached; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration and that there might be devised various modifications thereof without departing from the spirit ofmy invention as herein set forth and claimed. p My present attachment, which is to be identified as an adaptor, comprises the rear member I and the forward member 2 which are arranged in abutting relation to each other and which are adapted to be removably mountedupon the side of the tool post P of the conventional lathe. These members are mounted upon the tool post by means of the screw-threaded bolts or studs 3 and 4 which project laterally therefrom and through the recesses 5 and 6 which are provided in the members I and 2, respectively. Recess 5 is in the rear side of the member I and recess 6 is in the lower side of the forward member 2. Studs 3 and 4 are located slightly above the level of the lathe center. By means of nuts 5 and 6' and suitable washers, members I and 2 may be firmly clamped against the side of the tool post P.

The tool T is held between the holder parts I which are supported upon the front end of the forward member 2 by means of a screw-threaded bolt 8 which is threaded into the lower part I and has a washer for clamping engagement with the upper surface of the member 2, while the tool holder 1 engages the underside of member 2. Bolt 8 may extend through either a hole or recess in the front end of the member 2. One of the holder parts I may have an under-cut or beveled form of slot for effective holding engagement of the tool which has a correspondingly formed surface portion for interlocking engagement therewith. The same tool holder 1 is adapted for any one of several different tools, as for instance those for turning, facing and forming operations; another holder may be adapted for holding the tool for boring; another for drilling; another for reaming; another for tapping; and others for other operations. Thus my device requires but one setting of the tool post for all of the various operations which it may be desired to perform.

The rear end of the forward member 2 is adapted for screw-threaded engagement with the end of the bolt 9 which extends through a vertical slot in the rear member I and which has its head adapted for clamping engagement with the rear face of the rear member I. By this means, the

forward member 2 may be adjusted vertically to' the desired height and then clamped in such position by tightening the bolt 9.

The tool post may be'built up by means of blocks therebeneath to the desired height; and this height'may be such that when the top surfaces-of the members I and 2' are flush with each other; the effective point of the tool will be on centre with respect to the work to be mounted and held in the face plate, chuck or collet of the lathe. By means of the bolt 9, the forward member 2 may be elevated whenever desired and to any required extent and may then be secured in suchposition.

With the bolt 9 in effective clamping position, the nuts on bolts 5 and 6 may be loosened so as to permit the two members I and 2 to be swung clockwise about the axis of the bolt 5- to a position out of the way of the work.

Upon completion of one particular operation, as for instance turning, facing, boring or cutting off, the adaptor members I and 2 with the tool may be removed as a unit and may be replaced by another adaptor and tool. Then, when this other tool in the other adaptor has performed the desired operation, the first adaptor and its tool may be substituted instead of the other adaptor and tool; and the point of the original tool will return to its original position with respect to the cross slide without requiring any adjustments. This is important in duplicate work and my attachment thereby makes the lathe more economical than a turret lathe for some small runs. Adaptors may be changed, without moving the carriage of the lathe to the right or the left, by merely turning the nuts 5 and 6 so as to release the same. It is to be understood that the point of the tool may be set at a position either above or below the center of the work or exactly on center. For instance, the suspension point may be slightly above the lathe center so as to counteract the digging-in efiect that is so often experienced when tools are supported below the lathe centers. It is found that the life of a tool bit is greatly lengthened by this arrangement and there is less danger of breaking of the cut-ofi and other such tools.

With my present device, there is nothing about the tool-post or block to accumulate chips and consequently the removal of the adaptor from the cross slide becomes necessary only when a grinder is to be used instead of a tool. Chips that would 1 naturally accumulate about a turning tool, are more readily removed and the eyes of the operator are partially protected from flying chips by the over-hung tool holder.

The flexibility of my present device makes possible a decided saving in time and labor and removes the element of uncertainty, as above explained. Also, my device is capable of various ready and convenient adjustments; as for instance, both the post and tool may be set at any 7 angle and this often obviates the necessity of running the cross-slide way in and way out.

Briefly, my present device is characterized by the marked convenience and accuracy with which it may be adjusted and set in a dependable manner; the variety of adjustments that are made possible; the reduction in the number of parts required for holding the various tools; the ability to use every type of tool post tool in connection with this adaptor; the improved manner of performance and the high character of work performed thereby; the practical elimination of the accumulation of chips upon the adaptor; and the increased safety to the operator of this device.

There may be noted other practical advantages which result from the particular structure and arrangement of my adaptor. For instance, my adaptor is hung upon points which occupy level arrangement in a plane above the center of the lathe; the tool is hung from above with the result that, in changing the tool, the center is not disturbed; and the tool holder is provided with a pivotal mounting at the rear thereof and with means for locking the same at a point forward thereof, as indicated at the points 3 and 4, respectively.

The practical value of the above-noted advantages will be apparent to those who are familiar with the art to which this invention relates.

What I claim is:

1. An attachment for a lathe, comprising a tool post with means for mounting the same so as to occupy vertical position upon the cross-slide of the lathe, a tool holder consisting of relatively adjustable forwardly and rearwardly laterally ar- 6 ranged abutting portions, the forward one of semi portions having a recess transversely of the bottom thereof, the rearward one of said portions having a recess. transversely of the rear side thereof, bolts extending laterally from said tool post and through said recesses respectively and each having a nut for releasable holding engagement of said portion with said tool post, and means for removably mounting a tool upon the forward end of said tool holder.

2. An attachment for a lathe, comprising a tool post with means for mounting the same upon the cross-slide of the lathe, a tool holder consisting of relatively adjustable forwardly and rearwardly laterally arranged abutting portions, the forward one of said portions having a recess transversely of the bottom thereof, the rearward one of said portions having a recess transversely of the rear side thereof, bolts extending laterally from said tool post and through said recesses respectively and each having a nut for releasable holding engagement of said portions with said tool post, a bolt extending from the rear of said forward portion and through a vertical slot in said rearward portion and having a nut for releasable clamping engagement with said rearward portion so as to hold said forward portion in the desired vertical adjustment, and means for removably mounting a tool upon the forward end of said tool holder.

3. An attachment for a lathe, comprising a tool post with means for mounting the same so as to occupy vertical position upon the cross slide of the lathe, a tool holder consisting of a plurality of parts arranged upon one side of said tool post in forwardly and rearwardly abutting relation to each other, said forward part being vertically adjustable with respect to said rearward part, and said rearward part having means of adjustment upon said tool post about a horizontal axis, said forward and rearward parts having separate releasable means of direct and individual engagement with said tool post for mounting and for securing the same in adjusted positions upon said tool post, and means for removably mounting a tool upon the forward end of said tool holder.

ERNEST P. PIERCE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l iumber Name Date Re. 21,877 Anthony Aug. 19, 1941 993,553 Rosenbeck May 30, 1911 1,245,959 OGara Nov. 6, 1917 1,246,226 Blackinton Nov. 13, 1917 1,394,628 Kramer Oct. 25, 1921 1,979,252 Chedester Nov. 6 ,1934 2,070,188 Steward Feb. 9, 1937 2,150,959 Bergstrom Mar. 21, 1939 2,238,675 Breuning Apr. 15, 1941 2,341,277 Larsson Feb. 8, 1944 2,525,216 Garrand Oct. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 155,898 Great Britain Dec, 22, 1920 

